Fine Gael committed to working with childcare providers for a sustainable sector

Fine Gael Candidate for Dublin Mid-West Vicki Casserly stated today (Tuesday) that Fine Gael is committed to consulting and working with childcare providers to ensure a sustainable sector.

She added that the Fine Gael-led Government has invested significantly in childcare over the last five years.

“I met with the Early Years Alliance last week. I felt their frustration and heard their call for a sustainable future for the sector. They are working hard to care and educate our children. Fine Gael wants to work with them and parents to make childcare an attractive and long term career, to reduce costs to providers and parents.

“A strong economy needs a sustainable childcare sector. If elected to government, Fine Gael will ensure childcare providers are at the table.

“Fianna Fáil is proposing to put less than €200 million into the sector over the next five years. That is neither realistic nor practical. Fine Gael has increased the budget from €274 million in 2015 to €638 million in 2020. We have made inroads but I know it is not enough.

“The Fine Gael manifesto reflects the need to invest in and strengthen the childcare sector. We can only do this together with those working in the sector. We are allocating €400 million over the next five years to investment as reforms take place. This will be to the benefit of both parents and providers. It will bring the childcare budget to over €1 billion by 2025.

“That funding will help cut costs for parents in the costs of their childcare and it will help with the reform of the funding model for Early Years Learning and Care and School Age Care. The Expert Group considering the new funding model is to engage with providers and other stakeholders as they develop their report.

“Fine Gael supports the establishment of a Joint Labour Committee (JLC) in the childcare sector. A childcare JLC will be able to draw up an Employment Regulation Order which would determine minimum rates of pay for childcare workers, as well as terms and conditions of employment.

“Increased regulation is also creating an additional administrative and financial burden for these small businesses. I know it has caused also caused annoyance and frustration. Fine Gael will streamline regulatory requirements whilst continuing to improve quality.”